Warner to Bears, Pukes or Fish?

[Texas Hog]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/bears/cs ... sep30.html
December 30, 2004

BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter





Talk about an arms race.

While Rex Grossman appeared at Halas Hall on Wednesday and announced that his recovery from knee surgery remains ahead of schedule, the Bears aren't closing the door to other options at quarterback for 2005.

That includes Kurt Warner, who has told the New York Giants he's ready to leave for a team that wants him -- maybe the Bears. Coach Lovie Smith, meanwhile, continued to gush over Chad Hutchinson, and offensive coordinator Terry Shea said he hopes to have 38-year-old veteran Jeff George back in the mix next season.

Even former Boise State gunslinger Ryan Dinwiddie showed up for the first time in almost four months after being added to the practice squad Wednesday.

Those are enough right arms to fill out a starting rotation in baseball, and don't discount the possibility of any one of them being in training camp next summer.

General manager Jerry Angelo said Hutchinson has done enough in four starts to convince him he can be a viable No. 2 behind Grossman. George, out of gratitude to the organization for giving him an opportunity, is likely to return if he's asked. And while Dinwiddie is an arm for the offseason with Grossman's status unknown and Craig Krenzel headed to NFL Europe, Warner remains a possibility.

A move from New York to Chicago looked like a certainty as recently as last month for Warner, but even with Hutchinson's emergence, it still could happen. Warner, whose contract is void after the season, said Wednesday he wants to find a situation where he will be the starter, but it's doubtful any team would hand him the reins without a real competition in place.

"I am not going to be content being a backup; that's the bottom line,'' the two-time league MVP told reporters in New York. "I loved my year here, but I am not content being a backup. I think I showed people and did things here and won games and that I have proven I can play and start in this league.''

Warner, 33, led the Giants to a 5-2 start before being pummeled by the Bears in a 28-21 loss Nov. 7 and then losing at Arizona. That's when Giants coach Tom Coughlin pulled the plug on him, and the team hasn't won with No. 1 pick Eli Manning at the controls.

Warner threw for 2,054 yards with six touchdowns, four interceptions and an 86.5 passer rating. To put that in perspective, only Jim Miller (2,299 in 2001) has thrown for that many yards for the Bears since 1997, and Erik Kramer (93.5 in 1995) is the last to have a rating that high.

"My whole goal was to show people I could throw the football, I could lead and I could win,'' Warner said. "I think I showed people I could do that.''

Warner has mentioned the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and Bears as teams that might work out. The Bears aren't going to give him a job ahead of Grossman, but Angelo at least will explore him as a possibility.

As for Grossman, he was able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with his family in Bloomington, Ind., something he hasn't done in recent years.

"It was nice, and my mom really liked it,'' Grossman said. "But hopefully I don't do that again for a long time.''